Hot Boats & Watercraft How-Tos


How To: Tie a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches knots
Learn how to tie a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches - a quick and secure way of attaching a rope to a railing or other fixed object. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Tie a Tom Fool's Knot
Learn how to tie a Tom Fool's knot - this knot is a basis for a number of decorative and functional knots. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie the clove hitch knot
Check out this instructional knot tying video that demonstrates how to tie a Clove Hitch knot. You can tie a clove hitch to a stanchion when you can't reach the top. Just follow the simple instructions outlined in this tutorial and learn how to tie a Clove Hitch knot. Knot tying is a breeze with this video. Start practicing and reel in the big fish!

How To: Tie the Handcuff knot
Learn how to tie a Handcuff Knot. This is a handy knot for those times when an emergency set of handcuffs are needed :) Firefighters also use this knot, coupled with a half hitch over each loop, as a man harness. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: TIe a decorative noose
In this tutorial, we learn how to tie a decorative noose. First, form a loop and then and wrap the end around the loop thirteen times. Next, take the loose end and stick it into the coils you just made. Use a pencil and long scissors to help you do this. After you are done with this, tie a knot at the end and pull so the loop is tight. You can also clip off the loose end and pull the loop to make it larger if you prefer. When finished, use this as you wish but do not use it for violent activi...

How To: Install a CE Smith t-top electronics box on your boat
When out on the ocean, it's always a smart move to make sure your electronics are close by and easily accessible. The best way to do so is by having it located at the t-top tower of your boat. So this tutorial will show you how to install a CE Smith electronics box on the t-top of your boat. It's easy to do and will have your equipment ready in no time. Enjoy!

How To: Tie a Japanese knot or Square knot
Learn how to tie a Japanese Knot or Square Knot - a decorative knot that forms a square shape. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.

How To: Tie an Artillery Hitch (Loop) knot
Learn how to tie an Artillery Hitch or loop - A secure way of forming a loop in the standing part of a rope so that the loop lies perpendicular to the line. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Tie a Shamrock knot / True Lover's knot
This shows you how to tie a Shamrock Knot / True Lover's Knot - A decorative knot, built from two Thumb Knots, that forms the shape of a shamrock. This is used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie off a suspension ring with a basic knot
This video tutorial is in the Outdoor Recreation category which will show you how to tie off a suspension ring with a basic knot. Weld less rings are used as connection points for a variety of purposes. However, riggers quite often make tying a ring unnecessarily complicated. All that is required is a basic knot and a few hitches. For this you will need to tie the running overhand knot. Take a rope, bend it in half and tie it to a suspension point. Now pass both ends of the rope through the r...

How To: Properly tie and anchor your boat
This video is some real basic stuff about boat tying and anchoring. Watch to see the right way to tie and anchor your boat.

How To: Tie an Anchor Hitch / Bucket Hitch knot
Learn how to tie an Anchor Hitch (also known as a Bucket Hitch) - A very secure means of attaching a rope to an anchor or any other object that you can't afford to loose (like a bucket down a well, I suppose - thus the alternate name). I actually do use this hitch for temporary anchor attachment (preferring to permanently splice instead) as well as for my bucket lanyards when washing down my boat's deck.

How To: Tie the quick release knot
Here is a good knot. Do you know it? It's the quick release knot. Check out this instructional knot tying video that demonstrates how to tie the Quick Release knot. Just follow the simple instructions outlined in this boating tutorial and learn how to tie a Quick Release knot. Knot tying is a breeze with this video. Start practicing and reel in the big fish!

How To: Tie the basic knot design of a cargo net
In this video, we learn how to tie the basic knot design of a cargo net. First, tie a double overhand knot on a rope bent into two. After this, make cow hitching on the first loop that you created. Next, make a second double overhand knot followed by cow hitching the second loop. After you do this, you will be able to size up for use! To make this, you must have some prior knowledge of how to tie different knots. If you don't, you won't know how to make the shapes. Use a picture as a referenc...

How To: Tie a Heaving Line knot / Franciscan Monks' knot
Learn how to tie a Heaving Line or Franciscan Monk's Knot - a practical and decorative knot used to add weight to the end of a heaving line, or to finish a Monk's belt rope ends. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.

How To: Tie a Draw Hitch or Thief Hitch
Learn how to tie a Draw or Thief Hitch - a means of securing a rope with two standing ends - one end is load bearing, and the other can be pulled to release the knot. I used this knot extensively for raising the mast on my first trailor-sailor - Tie this above the spreaders, stand the mast up, then pull on the release line to untie it without having to climb aloft. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie a Half-Hitch knot or Double Half-Hitch knot
Half-hitches are great knots, but only when use in combination with other knots. By itself, a half-hitch is unsafe and unreliable, but when joined with other knots, can be quite the opposite. Tying two half hitch knots together is great for attaching a rope or line to any object. The half hitch and double half hitch are used throughout specialities, most notably as a boating knot, outdoor knot, and paddling knot.

How To: Patch a hole in a fiberglass hole
LowkeeLT demonstrates how to patch a hole in a fiberglass boat hull. First, grind around the edge of the hole to make it smooth. Make an angle that goes towards the hull so that the resin won't get caught and create air pockets. Attach kitchen wax paper to the boat as a non-stick material for the poly resin to set against. Then, put down a flexible cutting board by duct taping the two layers on the outside of the hull and pulling it taut. Attach three layers of fiberglass strips with resin to...

How To: Tie a Sheepshank from a Tom Fool's knot
Learn how to tie a Sheepshank using a Tom Fool's Knot as a base - This is a quick and stable means of tying a sheepshank knot. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.

How To: Remove a boat from the water for transport & storage
Eddie shows us how to remove a boat from the water in this video tutorial. First, take down the canvases and wrap them up. Now, put the antennas down and drive the boat to the loading dock. Next you will need a large truck that has a hitch and trailer attached to it, and secure everything so the boat stays on and doesn't come off of the trailer. Take the drain plug out of the boat before you transport it, to make it lighter. Transport the boat to your house, and place bricks over the front so...

How To: Pump out the waste on your boat for winter
In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to pump out the waste on your boat for winter. This video is from LIBoatersClub. Take your boat to the waste disposal area and secure it. Remove the cap from the waste tank. Be careful not to drop the cap. Operating the waste disposal unit ashore is very easy. Just switch on the pump, take in some water in to the hose and then attach the hose to the out let on your boat. Hold it tight and open the valve. It will suck out all the was...

How To: Tie a Spanish Bowline knot
Learn how to tie a Spanish Bowline - a good way of tying a bowline with two loops. This is a fine knot for camping, climbing, sailing or Boy Scout training.

How To: Tie an Icicle Hitch knot
Learn how to tie an Icicle Hitch - A superb gripping knot that strongly resists slipping, stainless steel or other smooth surfaces, when the pull is parallel to the object to which it is tied. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Tie a Turk's Head knot - on a cylinder and spherical
Learn how to tie a Turk's Head Knot - a decorative knot used to cover a cylindrical object, or it can be worked into a tight ball or sphere. This is a good knot for sailing, boating, general outdoors and even bondage.

How To: Tie a Grass Bend
How to tie a Grass Bend - A good knot for joining together two ropes made of stiff material - seat belt webbing, for example. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie the Man Harness from a Tom Fool's Knot
Learn how to tie a Man Harness from a Tom Fool's Knot - used as an emergency harness for hoisting a person. This knot can be used in sailing, boating, general use, camping and bondage.

How To: Tie a bowline knot
Check out this instructional knot tying video that shows viewers how to tie a bowline knot around a chair. Practice and improve your knot tying skills by watching this tutorial and learn how to tie a bowline knot like an expert.

How To: Tie the running bowline knot for boating
Check out this instructional boating video that demonstrates how to tie the running bowline knot for boating. Animations are the best way to learn to tie a knot. Just follow the simple steps outlined in this instructional fishing video and learn how to tie a running bowline knot. Start reeling in the big fish! Tie the running bowline knot for boating.

How To: Tie the mooring hitch knot for boating
The mooring hitch knot for boating is a more secure knot than the better known (and easier to tie) slippery hitch boating knot. The mooring hitch knot holds fast while under tension yet can be released quickly with a tug on the free end. Despite it's name, this is a temporary boating knot and not to be trusted to moor a boat or anything else of value! Hope this knot tying instructional video helps you perfect your mooring hitch boating knot. Enjoy! Tie the mooring hitch knot for boating.

How To: Tie the monkey's fist boating knot
There are often requests for the Monkey’s Fist (or Paw) Knot so here it is! Watch this instructional knot tying video to learn how to tie your own perfect monkey's fist boating knot. The key to tying the monkey's fist knot successfully is to have a small ball or core to insert into the knot before tightening it up. The core must match the size of the knot - which is dependent on the size of the rope being used - for the knot to finish right. Some trial and error is to be expected when first t...

How To: Build a carbon spinnaker pole
This instructional video teaches how to make a carbon spinnaker pole. Learn how to make your own spinnaker pole for sailing both dinghies and yachts.

How To: Fix boat transoms with epoxy
Fix the transom of a wood rotten boat with epoxy.

How To: Fix boat stringer systems with epoxy
Fix your stringer system in your boat with epoxy.

How To: Construct a paddle-boat
Learn how to create a one person paddle boat out of everyday objects. This narrated video goes through the process of creating both the boat and paddle. A poncho, a papasan chair, and a few pieces of wood will be needed. This guy is nuts!

How To: Winterize your boat
In this tutorial, we learn how to winterize your boat with Bill Sisson. First, you need to make sure everything that moves stays moving. You can help this by adding some oil and cream to the parts that need to stay moving. Anything that is related to the fuel system should be treated as well. The fuel system needs to be treated or else it won't work properly when you start your boat up again in the summer. Make sure you have a good fuel stabilizer in the fuel and treat the filter as well. Jus...

How To: Winterize your boat and prepare it for Winter
In this tutorial, we learn how to winterize your boat and prepare it for winter. First, you will remove the drain plug from the boat and let the water out. After this, remove the oil drain and drain the oil out of the motor while it's warm. Exhaust fumes while the engine is turned on as well. Now, start the engine and let it run for a few minutes staying idle. After doing these steps, your boat will be ready to be stored for the winter. So when you turn it on when it's ready, it won't stall o...

How To: Winterize the sterdrive unit on your boat
In this tutorial, we learn how to winterize the stern drive unit on your boat. By draining the oil as the last step, you must inspect for moisture. If you have no moisture, you can assume there is no water intrusion so you don't have to do any repairs. Remove the oil out of the lower unit first, making sure to keep an eye out for metal shavings and moisture. Use the proper gear lube to make sure you are draining all the areas properly. When finished, your boat will be ready to be stored and b...

How To: Properly tie a strong nonbinding bowline knot
If you need a sturdy, super strong knot, but you want be able to reuse the rope, then the bowline knot is what you want. The bowline knot is one of the strongest knots available. It's a nonbinding knot which makes a nonslipping and nonjamming loop at the end of the rope. This is perfect for heavy equipment, and great for boats and other watercraft vehicles. The bowline can take as much weight as the rope can handle, and it can be untied!

How To: Set up the mast on the Open 570 single-handedly
In this video, we learn how to set up the mast on the Open 570 single-handedly. First, look to see where the mast is going to fit on the boat. Pick the mast up in the middle so it balances out on each side, it's very long. Turn the mast around and place the edge facing the foyer. Put the base of the mast into the mast step, then let it rest on a step ladder. From here, get into the boat and add the safety pin into the base of the mast to keep it locked. Now take the mast and push it up into t...

How To: Tie a great sailor's chain (sea chain) knot
Have a lot of left over rope that you don't need? Looking for an easier way to store your extension cables and the like without getting them all tangled up? Then learn how to make a sailor's chain! This great video shows you the basic steps that you'll take to creating an endless set of slip knots that'll keep your wires, cables and ropes all tidy without.